The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-20
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
SPOTTSYLVANIA.
The Battle as Secn from The Ranks OF the Ia6th
Ohio.

ass men-ail strong and able for duty. But
now its number was reduced nearly one-halt
in slam, wounded and missing. But little WAS
done or this day, either by the entire army or
the regiment. except TO i0rtify and act on the
defensive. Desultory firing was kept up on
the skirmish-liue by both armies In the
evening the rebels checred vocl lerousiy aud
made demonstrations as III they were going TO
make a charge, but for some reason they gave
il mp.
shortly after nightfall the regiment, with its
divsiOn-Third Division, Sixth Corps, with
drew quietly from the rebel front and began It's
march with the entire army in the direction OF
Spottsylyauia Courthouse on what Is known
as the Brock road. The regiment was on the 20
all night When not marching, the men were
standing on their feet
DIPATENTLY WAITING,
which was as tiresome and fatguing as the
marching, as they were not allowed m any
way 10 relieve themselves OF their burden. THIS
slow and tiresomc march was kept up al nearly
evening of the next day-Sunday.
When the Fifth Corps. under Gen. Warren,
which led the advance of the infantry o; the
Union army arrived in the vicinity Of spott-
sylvauia, 10 was confronted by Longsireets
Corps which had been ordered there by Gen.
Lee In expectation OF Grants movements
After arriving in front OF the rebels the rcgi-
ment was soon formed in line OF battle await
ing the enemy, aud general engagement
seemed impending, but conflict only occurred
In front of the Fifth Corps. There IL Was sharp
and spirited, hut other parts OF the line esl'e-
cally IN front OF the l26th Ohio, there was
only occasional firing. As the men lay I'm line
of battle alonga rail fence just enough musket-
balls reached thom TO annoy and make them
feel uncomfortable.
The regiment lay ia line OF battle till about
III o'clock thai night, and then commenced
moving again IL continued marching until
o'clock on the morningO of the 9th, when the men
were permitted TO lie down, exceedingly
TIRED AND WORN OUT,
having had mo rest for five successive days.
On the 9th the men were either busily fOrtify-
ing or fighting all day. AT o'clock in the
afternoon, from the musketry and heavy can
nonading, the combatants appeared to be busy
all along the line.
About @ o'clock in the evening of this day
detail of three officers and 100 men from the
l26th was sent out in front TO increase the
skirmsh-line and advance TO ascertain the
strength of the enemy. The result was that
the detail deployed aud advanced under cover
of darkness, unperceiyed, TO within short dis
tance of the rebel works aud brought on a Sc
we're szirmish. The angry,
FLASHING AND CLEANING
Of musketry in the darkness Of the night was
terrible for short time. Two Of the men were
Capt hampton, being the senior officer, led the
detachment. he WAS mortally wounded and
died the next day.
As the 9th was a day Of intrenching, Skin
mishing and accommodating, in order TO ascer-
tain the strength of the opposing forces the
10th was a day of hard and severe fighting. 1t
was day OF awful carnage on both sides.
Death was busy all day. The roar of musketry,
the laundering tones OF artillery, and the yells
of the cOmbatants they surged back aud
forth were beyond description. lit seemed that
it was impossible for anyone on either side to
survive the desperate and sanguinary struggle.
The regiment lay in line of battle near the
artillery all day and all night, and until 6
O'Clock on the evening Of the nth, when it was
moved a short distance TO the left, where il was
ordered TO lie down in line of battle behind the
breastwoTks on the damp ground. The heavy
rains al afternoon made II very disagreeable.
BUT FEW CASUALTIES
occurred IN the regiment on the 10th and 18th,
and those were from rebel sharpshooters and
random shots from the skrmish-line; but the
deaiening roar OF the artillery was very trying
10 the men as they lay in such close proximity.
Co. OF the regiment was detailed To 90 on
the skirmish-line to-day, and occupied a very
exposed position until the evening Of tie 10th.
Capt. Meyand had charge Of the company, and
by getting his command into gopher holes "
il was tOlerably secure from the sharpshOOtors
that were bid in the trees within the rebel
lines.
On the 10Th desperate fighting began on the
left of the line at o'clock in the morning by
Hancock, who had transferred his corps from
the right 10 the left the evening before The
struggle was fierce aud terrific all day, in order
to get possession OF an elevated position held
by the rebels for the purpose of using artillery
The roar of muskctry was awful as volley after
volley was hurled back and forth, aud the ter
rife noise of the artillery was beyond
ANYTHING BEFORE EXPERIENCED.
As the artillery belched forth its deadly mis-.
sies the earth appeared to be lifted from its
foundations and shook AS it were in balance
All day long and far into the night the strug
gle ragged with unceasing fury. IL there was q
lull In the storm Of battle it only proved TO be
breathing spell, preparatory to a more DIES.
perate onset. The sun even refused to witness
such sight, and hid his face all day behind
thick cloud of vapor and smoke. AT about IL
o'clock thatday the l26th Ohio, with It's division
was ordered TO the left of the line, where both
armies appeared 10 be concentrating After
arriving aud forming line of battle the regi.
ment was detached from its brigade and sent
past several lines of battle TO the front line
within 100 yards of the enemy's breastworks
mt what is known as
THE BLOODY ANGLE"
so called from the sanguinary struggle that
booh pace AT TINS salient III the rebel works
and formed line of battle while the rebel,
were pouring yolley after volley and thinning
its ranks. Having no protection save a few
small pines six OF eight inches in diameter
the men lay down. They loaded lying; theI
rising TO their knees, took deliberate aim n
the heads of the rebels above the parapct ant
fired. Although the men were being stricker
down al fearful rate, they were cool and calu
and kept up such constant fire on the rebel
as 10 nearly stop theirs by times, as it was al
most sure death Tor them TO show their heads
There was no standing up and cheering O
yelling, except by few individuals, and the,
were soon hushed in death, as they were tar
gets Tor the enemy. The men were inspire,
with more than usual fearlessness and frml,
held their position until each man had ex
hausted
FIFTY ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION,
and then he took cartridges from the boxes O
their slain comrades in order to keep up th
fire.
This was continued for nearly two hours
and when tho rebels discovered that the firm
had ceased, they came out of their rife pit
and began advancing toward the regiment TIL
mon of the l26th fixed bayonets and held Ia
ground for short time, and only fell back /
rear Of the next line of battle when In imml
nent danger Of being annihilatod, as alread
every other man was either killed or wounded
including the brave and faithful commando,
Iieut-Col. Ebright, who was wounded early 4
The engagement. Alter getting a supply Z
ammunition the men returned and lay all nigl
IN line of battle short distance I'm rom NJ "a,